Daily Republican., 1887-01-29
SATURDAY. JANUARY 20. iss.


According 70 the provisions Of the
bill offered In the Sac Senate, pro-
viding for taking . vote ON calling Q
8 ate Constitutional Convention, no
vote can be taken until ut the regular
6tase election In November 1888. This
10 nearly two years Of, bat 1t 10 owl
IDENTIFY the most practicable time for the
holding OF such IN important election.
There are several solid reasons Why the
election for or against . convention
should not ee held In May, . ds,e sne-
gested. but not ordered in Article TX
OF the Constitution. To call . cow
tion . vote must DO cast that ex seeds
the higheet vote Of the three last pre-.
ceiing State electtons, which would
sake in the last State election, when
only about 5000 votes were pollod
the Presidential election OF 1884, when
3o.o1 votes were polled. and 1882, the
Gov srnor's election, when 3l,l7 votes
were cast. The vote cast then would
haze to exceed the vote OF 1882, which
Vas the highest vote OF ths three last
State elections, and the highes. ever
cAst In the State. 1t could no. reason
ably be expected that In the month Of
Nay, when the farmers OF the Safe are
III n King more about planting corn and
cleaning strAs berry beds, with no other
incentive than TO vote for or against .
Constitutional Convention, and with
fully one-ionrth OF the voters OF the
State disfrsn ohised BY unreasonable as
tesment laws. tbs vote OF 1882 could
DO exceiied. Therefore, the prof sotors
Of the present bill were wise In fixing
tue dste for vo'ing on . convention at
tho next State election, which will be Q
Presidential election, when . large vote
may reasonably be expected to be
polied. But even then thers will be .
small chance OF polling the req uisi 70
mum Der OF votes II the present syste N
o. disfranchisement is carried on by the
collectors and assessors. To begin with
then, 81, 179 votes must De pulled In 1888
or no Constitutional Convention will be
called. This may have q wholesome
eject in an effort to &c! out full vote
The person who gets assessed now aud
pays his tax after wards canpo. be de.
prtved OF bis vote 81 the election OF
1888. This should be a slim 1lus to get
assessed now, though there will bs
Auother chance TO get assessed the latter
part OF the present year, and next year
mp TO the last day OF March.
However, In reference TO the amend
ment to the constitution, II d. Martin 8
bill passes the Legislature. 1t will re
quire very strong effort 70 give IL vi
taity and forcs at the mex. election
Should 1t receive the Aft T IN alive en-.
dorsement OF the vote, of the people
then new Legislature, to be elected 81
tho same election, must take the mattel
in hand and provide for the State Con
i.ntional Convention. II will have 1
10 It's power to say Of how many mem
bers the convention shall be com posed
bu, the proportion OF mem bers TO the
r6spe >tive equities must bs the same =.
1t Is now in tbs Legislature. Then mus,
follow an election OF mem bers to tn.
6sate Constitutional Con ntion. rha
Will not take place until the n OVEN bel
election in 500, un.ess q special election
IL provided for. lould n special ele ,
ton be called the convention m light ge
TO work after 1890, and constitution
adopted by /, could be left TO a vote o
the people in 1892, and MOI before lS9
wolll tbs Sac receive the benefits o
tIe amended constitution. DR.. Martin
bill Is far-reaching in Its results, bus
has long and I! ny road TO travel be
f,re Its results are reached. The move
ment, however, has started tight. Il 4
preferable to any other mode or methot
OF amending the constitution, bscaus
tae people have something to say In Il
TIE people themselves cal the conyen
ton, II II is called at all, and the pso
pie will pass Anal iudgm ent upon Il; b,
people are At the beginning and the end
ing Of 1t, and whs aver their decision 1
IL should be 6nal and scquiessed In be
cause IL Is tae yoics Of the people.